Auto News - Published on Fri, 14 Dec 2018

Hyundai Motor Group and its suppliers plan to spend 7.6 trillion won (USD 6.7 billion) through 2030 to raise production of fuel cells by more than 200-fold as the automaker targets to become a key player in the new-energy vehicle technology. The world's fifth-largest auto group with Hyundai Motor and Kia Motors under its umbrella said that it will boost annual production capacity of fuel cell systems to 700,000 units from 3,000 now and create 51,000 jobs over the next 12 years.

The spending proposal reaffirms Hyundai's faith in the future of a technology that's been derided as "mind-bogglingly stupid" by Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla, which makes battery-powered cars.

Fuel-cell technology, which has been championed by Toyota as an alternative to the conventional internal combustion engines, involves hydrogen-powered vehicles that emit only water vapor.

Hyundai has South Korea's backing in its bets. The government plans to roll out 4,000 fuel cell electric vehicles on the road next year, a fivefold increase, with an aim to establish 310 hydrogen stations in South Korea by 2022.

The automaker has been wanting to bring its fuel cell vehicles to China and exploring options to utilize hydrogen-powered cars for a mobility service, although specific plans have not been announced yet.

Hyundai aims to produce 500,000 units for fuel cell powered passenger and commercial vehicles, while 200,000 units will be produced for other industries such as drones, vessels and rolling stocks.